Steam trap



Feb. 12, 1935.

C. W. ZIES STEAM TRAP Filed sept. 22,` 1952 v Patented Feb. 12, 1935 t L1,991,268 o v f Y l 1.991,2'68.V l' t f l A n o e STEAM TRAP' o cari we ziee; Lakewood, ohio', seignoofeto #me .f Vil-Dil' Anderson Company-,t Cleyelimd; n Ohio; i a1. corporation of'Ohio s 1 Application sleiteiberl 22;.1932; sexier No; 634,369;

Avinciamo. (cliisviosi 4 'I hisfinventionrelates to vsteam traps,r andthe 18 .contains alc1osi1rey plug? 151.V ...Passageway 17 mainobject of theinvention is to produce a rsteam contains .attubular bushing. ,-21.:having an enlarged trap in which all `of the operating'.parts-are.car` flange-22fat its bottomendLwhich flangese'rves' to riedf, loythetop; therebyxrenderingthe body reeid. in` holdingthe'- float... pivot. leverr support 23 .-5 mOVabIe/OrcIeaning; inspectionv,or repairrwith` inposition. .p Y. u lt Q outxdisturbing. the'pipeconnectionS-uoritheoperf l. Theif-oat levenpiyot support 23 comprises a ating/ mechanism of the trap.A y f l o horizontal. portion; and. two Vdepending ears 24 Another objectoof-.the inventinnisosto produce adaptedegtofreceiye alpivotepin 25,-".to support 'the aio-'steam trapyha'vingy atubedependingromi'the forked. lever 26-` for Verticalswinging-movement top,'ofthee-trap;-thisftubevserving botmasoan inlet about the lpin 25.y .Theportion. 2411s securedto 1o and asa guide-forgtheffloat., A the'atopi'.byfalpineZ'?. y. C 1 f Stili another object iss;tof:p1ovideav simpleicas-y 'Float'.lever 26,- WhiChiS :lQtfLfbl-.C the Divot e ingconstructionhe1d togetherby; asingle means 25 carries-fa valve' comprising a., ph'erical Valve whichr also serves as an inlet connection and float head;29.vand.a shank., 2`8. secured;levery 26` and guide; l Y Y apted tc't. against aiLannlartseat'BOj formed i5 y Another object is1-`to-provideatrapiconstructed in` th '.owerend 01V bushing 21,tliereloyy to close to'deect inCOnngfgascsandfvapor into thexoat, the out1et opening)when.theloyer` isfin its Y.uppthereby increasing its-.buoyancy:, permost--position,.asshownind. 1.v o Another objectz isfto. provide.meansl for pre-e Pivotal1y"'connected`t lever 26'bypin` 31" Work-l 26 venting velocity of incoming liqud-ofromvraising ing, ineelongatedslotsz.inthe.arms of' the l'ever, 20 the-nooo; and closing tho-1 outlet valve. underim- `ivsera-` support i 33 'Secured tjof' ninvr'ted' hollow proper-conditions.' f y uckeyjief This'bncket carriescoaxially Withit Additionalv objects. andadvantages'lof the ine-l a, bushing 35. -haVinE-1`d1cedCross 56615101135 vention will appearfronnthe-followingadescripe atitsfuppera endend:

.I tome into @evening-in tion', 4when read in connectionl-Wiffh `the. accom# -hQISQDDOrt-Istowhich.it .Sbufed'by heading 25 panyingdrawing, in Whichzedown-the portion 436Las` shown 1. The Fig. 1 is a vertical'se'ctional ViewV of one form bucketecontainns vent73f7zfassh0wn 1n F193 of steam trap embodying this inventiomgy l ofthefdrawing, sojaslto-permitair to escape'from p Fig. v2 is a horizontal sectionv on 1ine;IvI- -IIof the bucket during the operatiorfi,offtheytrap;v The 30 Fig- 1; e bushing 3531s yVertically'slid'able on fthe hollow 3Q Fig; Szis'asection on11ineIII1III of AFig. 2 ,bolt.11,.thisbolt.being threadedlat'38 into the throughthe float-and guideftube-showninFig:1'; ,connectiontl The boltlcontain's a. chamber or Fig;,4fisafragmenta1-seotion'showingxtheooute passageway; 39 closedatthe bottomland `having let vlveseatfandoatdeven pivot construction; lateralofttakeopeningsl. terminating .iSde a n Figiiisadetail of,a portionof thef-ffioati guide cup.42formed inothe bOt'0m-0f`thebW`19l` The 35 tube-flcuefore. 'ityis-.connecteditothefioat;landi;` 100117.11 alsohas anvenla'rg'edhead 143 fat thebot'- Figl Soisazvertical sectional; viewl'throughua tom and'connectedtopthebdy DOIt'Qn Of, the

modified-form ofitralllr Y f* vbolt by a conical surface 44-.WhichCQODB19iteS Referring'toithefdrawing, andparticularly to with aucoun'ter-*sunk portion :45'i'ft11'e bottom Qf 40 Eig-.11; thesteamtraptherein shown comprises bowl 9 to'form'fa,liqudand'gas tightl J'o'intiwhen 40,

tono'hollowlbody.OrbOwl-9.,andzmeans com'- thepartsare `assemb1d,'as"shown. The' c'on'- prising aeheHowrbolty llfwhich securesztheseparts nectionbtween thetp ri'm of b'owl Band' the together and serves as an inlettubefforxthegases, 'bottornlface of .topl BlisSealedhyigakt 165 vaporsand liquid. o y; Itwill be'understoodtnat; with`1 the construc- .45 The. topf which is'.v preferably-formed fromia.r tinjust described; the bowl "9 may be removed 45 singleoasting has @vertical threaded.inletv oonfbyunsorewmg; one boitl 11v anagwithout g disturbnections12eandeahorizontal threaded inlet-.cone ving the pipe connectionsfmadeat 12, 13" and 16 mention-13, both oi.` which terminate-inachamyordismantling the oatstiuctre Tne'bolt after bero14. Chamber. 14 is-.connected Withftheov inbeinglunserewedisfwitlidawndtliroughthe 013311` terior through'a threaded connection.4 15.- Top 1mgv in"'wishing'-35-,1-an1,v afterthebowl isclaned, `50 also'has-anoutletf comprisingya threaded hori.- the-partsl may-be reassembled? bylr placingl the zontalopening'l. andiaf. vertical passagewaycl? botvlin'positiom and passingwthef bolt through leadngiintO-Openng 16.I In linewith" passageythebushing5into'its1tltireaded",seatiiniopeny 1174s @connection lthrough"Whicliiaccess ing..'15'.2v This; construetienenot: only.' facilitates -to'ttificor` passai;@aplazar1W' may lolcihad.n Connection iinspeciaozni1and: repair; butfthe lpresence"offfthe 5b upstanding' wall of cup 42 in line with the lateral openings 41 prevents the escape of steam and gases up around the float. Hence, they are defiected inside of the iioat to give it buoyancy. The use of a single member which serves as an inlet tube and iioat guide, and, at the same time,

' as a means for holding the parts ofthe trap together, simplifies the structure and' materially reduces the number of operations required to assemble and disassemble the trap.

In describing the operation of the trap, it will be assumed that the trap has been installed in a new heating apparatus in which the'pipe and trap lines are free from waterl and steam,1

but contain air. It will further be assumed thatl one of the inlet openings 12 or 13 is connected to a steam heating system, while the other is closed, and, at the same time, the outlet opening 16 is connected by a pipe to a container into .whichuthe displaced water is to be delivered.

When the steam valve is vturned on, the apparatus cornr`1'1-ence's `to condense steam and to rise in temperature. The condensed steam or con'- densate flows by gravity to the trap, iillsit, and overflows thrQugh the outlet valve. Duringthis time, the bucket isin vits lowermost position, in which the outlet valve isheld open and the liq n uid enteringthe trap passes vthrough the passageway 39 out of the lateral outlet ports 41 over the rim of the cup 42 into the bowl 9, and, when the bowl is full, out of outlet-16.` Ihis operation continues until gas in the 4iornr of air'or steam enters the` trap;V This gas, being lighter than the water, is deflected.` upwardly by the rim of cup 42 andrises in a vertical direction into the bucket 34,` thereby displacing `water `from the bucket untilthe bucket ybecomes buoyant and commences tojfioat, gradually closing the outlet valve. l

If the gas which has actuated the bucket is air, it will pass out through the vent in thebucket and displace the water iny the bowl V9 until-the float is partly out of water. When the bucket loses its buoyancy, by having lostits sustaining medium in the form of water, it drops toits lowermost position and permits the air to escape through the outlet valve.v Up and vdown movements of the ybucket continue until all of the air is driven out 4of the system.

When steamenters the-tranit displaces the water in the bucket and causes the bucket to becomebuoyant and to rise: This steam, being a condensable gas, is consumed as it seeps'through the vent hole in the bucket.` -The outlet valve twill, therefore, remain closed until water enters fliveriesrof watery and steam to the trap.

Itwill 'be seen that the bolt 11 not only serves as an inlet connection to the body o f vthe trap, but it provides a guide along vwhichthe 'iioat bushing `35* can move without binding action.

' Ifhespace between fthe bushing and guide tube fis sealed-by capillary attraction, since Ait is only of suflicient size to permit free relative movement of the parts.- Furthermore, the upstanding rim of lcup 42 acts .todeflect gases' and airV` coming through .the lateralgopenings 41, and to direct vthem inside of the bucket 34 lsofas Ato render this bucket buoyant and to prevent these :gases from escaping around the sides of the bucket, .where their effect may be lost. This apparatus not only oers these functional advantages, but it comprises a very simple structure composed of a small number of parts which may be readily assembled and disassembled.

In Fig. 6, there is shown a modified form of construction in which the top of the trap is cornposed of a casting 47 containing an inlet chamber 48 and an outlet chamber 49. Connected to the inlet chamber 48 are a plurality of threaded inlet connections 51 and 52, both of which are in communication with the interior of the trap through a hollow vertical guide tube 53 connected to the inlet chamber 48 at 54 in top 47.

The outlet chamber 49 has connected with it two outlet connections 55 and 56, respectively, threaded to receive suitable connecting pipes, it being understood that, when one of these pipes is used, the other vmay be closed by a plug. Threaded into the bottom of the top casting 47 at 57 is a hollow body or bowl 58 carrying an upstanding centrally disposed boss'59' at the `bottom, this boss being in vertical' alignment with the bottom end of inlet tube 5,3. f

The entrance of gases and liquidf into ythe bowl 58 is through one of theinlet connectionsl5ll or 52, inlet chamberA 48, an'd inlet tube 53, Whiie egress of liquid andgases tothe outlet chamber 49` is controlled bya float valve. The iioat valve comprises an annular "valve seat 62 recessed into theinlet end of passageway 63 connecting the interior'of'f-b'owl 58 with'the outlet chamber 49. Cooperating with-'the 4valve seat 62 is a spherical valve head 564 carried by a forked float leverr65 pivoted at 66 in ears 60 carried by top 47 and having bifurcated ends 67 coi."

theoat 69 which guided in a vertical direction by the cooperation of bushing 72 and inlet tube 53. This movement may take place without any wedging or binding action, because of 4the bifurcated ends 67 in'theends of lever 65 cooperating with pin 68 and support 71.

It will be understood vthat the operation of the modiedfonn of trap shown in Fig,A 6 is similar to the trap shown in Fig. 1, except that the boss' 59in the bottom of cup 58 `acts to deyect the gases and liquid laterally away from the inside of the float. vIn this way, the pressure of the incomingliquid does not cause the float to be liftedto close the outlet valve at timeswhen it should'be open.` Thus, throttling action and reduction of trap capacity are effectively avoided.

`The modified form of float offers the advantage of rendering theA fioat operating parts readily accessible forv cleaning or repairing, becausethe cup 58 may be unscrewed Without dismantling .any of the operating parts of' the fioat or disconnecting any of the vpipes from it. Furthermore, this trap offers the advantage of having -both horizontal and vertical inlet and outlet connections, so that pipes may be connectedto lit from any direction and the remaining openings plugged. This renders the trap capable of 'universal use and requires that only a single form of trap be kept in stock for al variety of installations. The outlet opening 56 1 is Ad-isposed directly in line with the outlet valve '61,. thereby valve.

making the Valve seat accessible for cleaning and inspection without the provision of a special cleaning opening.

Although only two forms of steam traps embodying this invention are shown and described, it will be obvious that various changes may be made in the details within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention.

What is claimed is:-r

1. A steam trap comprising a casing having a top and a hollow body, said top containing inlet andr outlet openings; an inlet tube depending from said top and connected to said inlet; an inverted bucket float slidably movable on and guided by said tube within said body; and an` outlet valve in operative relation to said outlet opening and controlled by movements of said oat. f

2. A steam trap comprising a hollow body; a top containing an inlet and an outlet; an inlet tube depending from said top and connected with said inlet; an inverted bucket float 'slidable on said tube; an outlet valve carried by said top inoperative relation to said outlet; and means for operatively connecting said oat with said 3. A steam trap comprising a hollow body; la

top containing an inlet and an outlet; a single means for securing said body and top together and forming av uidconducting connection between said inlet andthe interior of the body; and float-controlled means for controlling the ilowof liquid from said outlet.

' 4. A steam trap comprising a casing having a top and a hollow body, said top containing inlet and outlet openings; a bolt for securing said top and body together, said bolt containing a passageway connecting said inlet with the interior of said body; an outlet Valve; a float for controlling said valve; and deflecting means within said body for directing into said float gases entering said body through said passageway.

5. A steam trap comprising a hollow body; a top containing inlet and outlet openings; a bolt for securing said body and top together, said bolt containing a passageway connecting said inlet with the interior of said body; an outlet valve; an inverted bucket float guided by said bolt for controlling said valve; and deflecting means disposed around said bolt for directing gases upwardly into said float.

6. A steam trap comprising va casing having a top and a hollow body, said top containing inlet and outlet openings; a hollow bolt for securing said parts in assembled relation and connecting said inlet with the interior of the hollow body, said bolt having at least one lateral opening near the bottom endthereof forconnecting the interior of the bolt with the interior of the hollow body; a continuous upstanding rib on the bottom of said body, said rib extending above the lateral opening in the bolt and in spaced relation to it; a Valve for controlling said outlet; and a float for controlling said valve.

7. A steam trap comprising a hollow body; a y

` ing an open upper end; a top for closing said open end, said topv containing inlet and outlet openings; an inlet tube depending from said tcp and connected with said inlet; an outletvalve carried by said top; andan inverted bucket oat embracing and slidable on said tube and connected to said valve for controlling the same, all of the parts being carried by said top torpermit free removal of said body. f

9. A steam trap comprising a top and a hollow body, said trap having an inlet and an outlet; a float for controlling the outlet; and a single means rfor securing said top and body together, for,`

conducting iiuid from said inlet to said body, and for guiding said float in its up and down movements.

` 10. A steam trap comprising a top and a hollow body, said trap having an inlet and an outlet; a oat for controlling the outlet; and a single means for securing said top and body together,

for conducting fluid `from said inlet to said body,

and for guiding said float in its up and down movements; said means comprising a hollow bolt closed at the head end and havinglateral fluid conducting openings adjacent said closed end and forming iluid conducting communication between the hollow interior and the interior of said body. CARL W. ZLES. 

